PHP HYPERTEXT PREPROCESSOR LANGUAGE
R. Berdan

PHP is a server side, cross platform, HTML embedded scripting language used to make web sites dynamic. PHP is used to process HTML forms, upload files, create guest books, store data in cookies, make visitor counters, read and write data to and from flat file and relational databases and much more. The only software students need for this course is: web browser, notepad and WS_FTP_LE - all of which are free.

Pre-requisites: basic HTML knowledge no previous programming languages required.

Course Text: Larry Ullman (2004) PHP for the world wide web, Peach pit press, ISBN 0-321-24565-2 2nd Edition Cost $31.99.

Students must have administrative rights to download and install software: MS IIs information server, PHP and MySQL, WS_FTP. All of these programs are free. Internet access is required to download the software.

1. Introduction to server side scripting with PHP

Learning Outcome: When you complete this module you will be able describe PHP’s significance, install MS IIs information server, install PHP4 module, configure the php.ini file and test simple PHP scripts.
Objectives: When you complete this objective you will be able to…..

1.1 Describe the significance of PHP and server side scripting
1.2 Install Microsoft Information Server IIS
1.3 Install PHP4, modify the php.ini file and test PHP locally
1.4 Use various text editors notepad, edit+, DreamweaverMX
1.5 FTP file to a PHP enabled server and test script
1.6 Add a comment to a PHP Page
1.7 Create and use variables in PHP
1.8 Create a constant
1.9 Identify and use various operators in PHP

2. Getting Data from the client using HTML forms and PHP:

Learning Outcome: When you complete this module you will be able to create PHP scripts that process a variety of HTML forms, send the data to a specified e-mail address, browser window, and flat file database.
Objectives: When you complete this objective you will be able to...

2.1 Create an HTML form for collecting information on the web
2.2 Add elements to a form
2.3 Create a PHP script that collects the data
2.4 Write a PHP script that sends data to an email address
2.5 Write a PHP script that sends data to a flat file database
2.6 Create a survey form in HTML

3. Working with Files and Directories and E-mail in PHP

Learning Outcome: When you complete this module you will be able to create a guest book for your web site and read and write to a flat file database using PHP
Objectives: When you complete this objective you will be able to…..

4.1 Create a Guest book for your web site using a flat file database
4.2 Create a simple visitor counter for a web site
4.3 Create a graphic visitor counter for a web site
4.4 Create a form that can upload a variety of file types to a server
4.5 Use include and require functions

4. Using Decisions Structures & Loops in PHP

Learning Out
:come: When you complete this module you will be able to write scripts employing decision structures (if\else) and loops.
Objectives: When you complete this objective you will be able to…..

3.1 Use if statements in PHP scripts
3.2 Use if\else statements in PHP scripts
3.3 Use the switch statement in PHP scripts
3.4 Use headers to create a simple password to redirect users
3.5 Use for loops in PHP scripts
3.6 Use While loops in PHP scripts
3.7 Write PHP script that requires user name and password

5. Working with Functions and Arrays
Learning Outcome: When you complete this module you will be able to create and use functions, create and use arrays in your PHP scripts.
Objectives: When you complete this objective you will be able to…..

5.1 Create a function
5.2 Pass Arguments to a function
5.3 Create an Array
5.4 Create an Associative Array
5.5 Move through array elements

6. Managing Cookies and Sessions
Objectives: When you complete this objective you will be able to set and retrieve cookies.

6.1 Describe persistence, use hidden input fields to pass variables
6.2 Create and read a cookie
6.3 Delete a cookie
6.4 Start a session cookie
6.5 Save Session information to a file

7. Working with MySQL databases and PHP scripts

Learning Outcome: When you complete this module you will be able to install MySQL, and create a simple database that you update and modify using a form processed with PHP.

7.1 Download, unzip, install and configure MySQL
7.2 Access MySQL using command mode and use basic SQL
7.3 Create a Persistent Connection to a MySQL Server
7.4 Work with the WinMySQL administrator
7.3 Create a simple database using SQL in command mode
7.4 Add, Update and delete records from the database
7.4 Create a news database using a PHP form and mySQL